The Birth Lounge Podcast

In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe is sharing something so many dog parents worry about during pregnancy: bringing home a baby and introducing them to the family dog. After receiving countless questions about Maximus Prime and baby Saggy, HeHe pulls back the curtain on exactly what she did (and didn't do) to prepare her 13-year-old dog for life with a newborn. She shares the boundaries, routines, and safety rules that helped create a calm and respectful relationship between her baby and her dog, while also protecting Max's comfort and autonomy. HeHe talks about why she wasn't focused on creating an instant "best friends" relationship, the importance of giving dogs choice and space, and how setting clear expectations from day one can help everyone feel safer and more relaxed. She also shares the specific rules her family follows around petting, licking, feeding areas, supervision, and respecting a dog's body language. As Max has aged and lost his vision due to diabetes, these conversations around boundaries and safety have become even more important. This episode offers a realistic look at what it means to raise a baby alongside an older dog while honoring the needs of both. Whether you're pregnant and preparing to bring home a baby, navigating life with pets and little ones, or simply curious about how HeHe handled introducing Saggy to Max, this episode is packed with practical tips and a gentle reminder that successful dog-baby relationships are built through respect, boundaries, and consistency, not luck. You'll learn: How HeHe introduced Max to baby Saggy The safety rules her family follows every day Why supervision is non-negotiable around dogs and babies How to create "baby spaces" and "dog spaces" Why consent and body language matter, even with family pets How to support an aging dog during a major family transition What a healthy dog-and-baby relationship actually looks like If you're a dog parent preparing for life with a baby, this episode will help you feel more confident, prepared, and realistic about what success can look like. For more about introducing your baby and your dog, listen to our episode with dog trainer, children's book author, and founder of Dog Meets Baby, Dominika Knossalla-Pado https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_7LI1p2f1Q SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthloun

In this re-aired episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe sits down with attorney, human rights advocate, and birth justice champion Hermine Hayes-Klein for a conversation every pregnant person needs to hear. If you've ever wondered whether you can say no during labor, change your mind after signing a consent form, refuse an induction or cesarean, or push back against a hospital policy that doesn't align with your wishes, this episode is for you. Hermine breaks down what informed consent actually means, what your legal rights are during pregnancy and birth, and why so many families leave their birth experience feeling powerless, unheard, or violated. Together, she and HeHe unpack the difference between hospital policy and patient rights, discuss the reality of obstetric violence in the United States, and explore how coercion and fear-based counseling can impact birth outcomes and long-term mental health. They also dive into why so many people are losing trust in the maternity care system, how providers can unintentionally override consent, and what happens when patients feel they have no real choice. Hermine shares powerful stories from her legal work advocating for birthing families and explains why being informed before labor begins is one of the most effective ways to protect your autonomy. You'll learn: What informed consent actually requires in pregnancy and birth Why signing hospital paperwork does not mean you've given blanket consent Whether you can change your mind or withdraw consent during labor The difference between a recommendation and a requirement What your rights are if you're being pressured into an induction or cesarean Why hospital policies are not the same thing as medical necessity How obstetric violence can occur, even in well-intentioned healthcare settings The critical role doulas play in supporting informed decision-making Practical ways to advocate for yourself before and during labor How preparation can help reduce fear, coercion, and birth trauma This episode is a powerful reminder that your body is not public property, your consent matters at every stage of labor, and you deserve to understand your options before making decisions about your care. Guest Bio: Hermine Hayes-Klein is an attorney, human rights advocate, and founder of the Know Your Rights campaign, which helps families understand and exercise their legal rights during pregnancy and childbirth. After experiencing the Dutch maternity care system firsthand, Hermine became passionate about addressing obstetric violence, protecting informed consent, and improving access to respectful maternity care. Through litigation, education, and advocacy, she works to advance accountability and reproductive justice for birthing families around the world. Connect with Hermine: Birthrightslawproject.com hayeskleinlaw.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ Connect with Hermine on IG: https://www.instagram.com/herminehayesklein/ BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for

In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe sits down with family physician and circumcision safety innovator Dr. David Tomlinson for a detailed, no-fluff conversation about newborn circumcision in the U.S. They unpack why this topic can feel so taboo, what most parents aren’t told about risks and complications, and how technique and device choice can significantly impact safety. Dr. Tomlinson also walks through the proposed health benefits often associated with circumcision, including infection and disease risk, and how those claims are supported in research. The conversation also explores timing, including why circumcision is often done within the first 24 to 48 hours in the U.S., why that differs from other countries, and what considerations come with waiting. HeHe and Dr. Tomlinson discuss pain management options, vitamin K and bleeding risks, aftercare, and what parents should know before making this decision. This episode isn’t about telling you what to choose. It’s about giving you a fuller picture so you can make a decision that feels informed, intentional, and aligned for your family. 00:00 Circumcision Injury Reality 01:13 Birth Lounge App Overview 04:43 Episode Setup Circumcision Questions 05:55 Meet Dr Tomlinson 09:48 Why Circumcision Feels Taboo 12:16 Safety Risks And Common Devices 14:21 AccuCirc Origin Story 18:26 How Often Injuries Happen 21:11 Long Term Injury Impacts 22:36 Foreskin Function And HIV 24:30 Benefits Evidence And Sexual Function 26:10 Devils Advocate Hygiene Question 27:46 Paraphimosis And Origins 30:50 Guidelines Without Shame 38:07 Why Delay Circumcision 38:47 War History And Early Timing 42:54 Ideal Timing 7 To 14 Days 44:05 Waiting Until Adolescence Tradeoffs 47:08 Beyond 28 Days And Anesthesia 49:04 Anesthesia Timing Risks 49:46 Topical vs Injectable Lidocaine 50:59 Hospital Cost Tradeoffs 52:53 Sponsor Cozy Earth 56:28 Vitamin K and Bleeding Rules 59:27 Oral vs Intramuscular Vitamin K / IM Vitamin K Options 01:04:33 Bleeding Prevention Techniques 01:06:11 Safer Clamp Design Explained 01:13:22 Healing Timeline and Dressing 01:14:20 Aftercare Vaseline and Trapped Penis 01:19:15 Transparency and Follow Up Care 01:22:49 Foreskin Disposal and Donation 01:26:20 How to Connect with SafeCirc 01:29:15 Final Encouragement and Wrap Up Guest Bio: Dr. David Tomlinson is a family physician, medical innovator, and international leader in newborn male circumcision care. An Academic All-American from MIT with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he went on to earn his MD at the University of Colorado and complete his Family Medicine training in the U.S. Navy. For over 20 years, he has worked to make newborn circumcision safer worldwide, leading the development of the minimally invasive AccuCirc® device. As a Clinical Assistant Professor at Brown University, Dr. Tomlinson has advised the World Health Organization, NIH, and Gates Foundation, and created training programs across Africa. He has served as an expert witness in malpractice cases involving circumcision injuries and has dedicated his career to preventing these devastating complications. A longtime staff physician at South County Hospital, where he was named Physician of the Year, Dr. Tomlinson has also lectured at leading institutions including Mass General, Brigham and Women’s, and Dartmouth. He authored the surgical chapters of the WHO’s global manual on infant circumcision and continues to shape programs for HIV prevention and safer newborn care worldwide. Connect with Dr. Tomlinson here: www.SafeCirc.com And Get a 10% discount anytime in 2026, just by mentioning The Birth Lounge Podcast You can find links to all the research Dr. Tomlinson shared in this document. You can learn more about the SafeCirc here. SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Sec